Hi Language Buddy!

I want to share an unusual yet effective concept with you. It's called the Swiss Cheese Method, and no, don't worry, it has nothing to do with actual cheese, which is good news for a vegan like me.

The Swiss Cheese Method is a time management concept introduced by Alan Lakein in his book How To Get Control Of Your Time And Your Life. Despite its publication nearly half a century ago, I still regard it as one of the most practical and effective guides to managing one's time. So, what exactly is this cheesy method, you ask?

Well, Lakein's idea is that life seldom offers you large, uninterrupted chunks of time to devote to a sizeable project, especially one that's discretionary, like my journey of learning Russian, for example. The ideal scenario would be having several months where you have no work, no family obligations, and can solely focus on your personal project. But let's face it, how often does that happen?

The Swiss Cheese method suggests that instead of waiting for that elusive large block of time, you chip away at the task bit by bit - much like the holes in a block of Swiss cheese. Ten minutes here, ten minutes there, all these moments add up. It's interesting to note that modern learning apps like Duolingo now promote a similar strategy, recommending users to spend a small amount of time daily on learning, acknowledging the efficacy of incremental progress over time.

In my case, I set a goal to type 200 Russian sentences a week into a spreadsheet to create flashcards. But life doesn't grant me hours and hours on end to sit down and do it. So, I apply the Swiss Cheese method. I find myself with a spare 10 minutes, and I use that time to type in some vocabulary. This approach not only helps me inch towards my goal steadily but also saves me from falling into time-sucking traps like endless YouTube browsing.

Whenever you find yourself with a short window of time, ask, "What can I do in these 5 or 10 minutes?" Carry reading material to a waiting room, use a language learning app while getting your oil changed, just keep chipping away. You will be amazed at the progress you make over time, and even happier that you didn't spend those precious moments nonproductively.

So, my fellow language learners, remember the Swiss Cheese method. Take advantage of those small pockets of time to keep moving forward in your language learning journey. You'll be surprised by how much those small holes can lead to considerable progress!

Take care, and until our next rendezvous, bye!